Compare towns
Rutland vs Halifax vs Oakham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Rutland has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13.5%).
Halifax has the shortest commute (35 min average).
Oakham has the oldest population (median age 49).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Rutland | Halifax | Oakham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,353Highest |
7,748 |
1,639Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +13.5%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+3.1% MA: +7.4% |
-2.7%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.4±2.5Lowest 4% above MA |
41.9±4.7 5% above MA |
49±2.3Highest 23% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 26.4%±5.4Highest MA: 19.4% |
22.2%±5.9 MA: 19.4% |
18.2%±3.1Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Rutland and Halifax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 14.7%±2.6Lowest MA: 17.9% |
18.8%±3.6 MA: 17.9% |
21.4%±2.3Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Oakham and Halifax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 42%Highest MA: 47.3% |
36.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
40.3% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±2.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
5%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±2.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Rutland and Halifax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $145,707±$28kHighest 40% above MA |
$118,556±$11k 14% above MA |
$102,000±$20kLowest about the MA average |
| Rutland and Halifax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $462,800±$33k 18% below MA |
$481,500±$51kHighest 14% below MA |
$420,100±$20kLowest 25% below MA |
| Halifax and Rutland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,078±$170Lowest 39% below MA |
$1,804±$375Highest about the MA average |
$1,174±$81 33% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,657 6% below MA |
$6,840Highest 14% above MA |
$4,103Lowest 32% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.8%±26.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
45.6%±37.4 MA: 51.8% |
27.8%±69.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Rutland and Halifax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2.1%Lowest MA: 10% |
2.6% MA: 10% |
4.4%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
95.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
91.6% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1990Highest 26 yrs newer than MA |
1979Lowest 15 yrs newer than MA |
1979Lowest 15 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 37 min 27% above MA |
35 minLowest 22% above MA |
39 minHighest 32% above MA |
| Work from home | 16.1%±5Highest MA: 18.6% |
13.9%±5.3 MA: 18.6% |
9.6%±3.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Rutland and Halifax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #150 of 282 in MA | #120 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Wachusett | Halifax | Quabbin |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
MA average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.